Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21797Assault (fatal) · Co. Dublin · 11 Jan 2014

Inquest returns narrative verdict in fatal assault in Finglas

Vincent Maher, 29, died from injuries sustained in a violent assault during a party in his apartment in Springmount Apartments, Wellmount Road, Finglas, in the early hours of 11 January 2014. Garda sources believed he was attacked after confronting two men about broken furniture in his flat. Five people, including two women, were arrested in connection with the death but no charges were ever brought. An inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court, adjourned in January 2023 after summoned witnesses failed to attend, concluded on 23 March 2023 when a seven-person jury returned a narrative verdict, with the investigation remaining open.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Jan
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Vincent Maher, 29, died from injuries sustained in a violent assault during a party in his apartment in Springmount Apartments, Wellmount Road, Finglas, in the early hours of 11 January 2014.
  • Garda sources believed Maher was attacked after he confronted two men about broken furniture in his flat.
Cause
The State pathologist found no single conclusive cause of death, while the post-mortem attributed death to blunt force trauma and a further finding cited a combination of blunt trauma, inhalation of blood, alcohol and diazepam intoxication, and positional asphyxia.
Where
The assault took place in Springmount Apartments on Wellmount Road, Finglas, Dublin.
When
The assault occurred in the early hours of 11 January 2014.
Investigation
  • Five people, including two women, were arrested in connection with the fatal incident (the case header lists seven suspects), but no charges were ever brought.
  • The coroner was aware of one witness, Nathan Harold, who was in custody serving time for attacking and robbing a man and had not been served with a summons.
In court
  • An inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court was adjourned in January 2023 after witnesses issued with summonses failed to attend.
  • On 23 March 2023, a seven-person jury returned a narrative verdict at the inquest.
Other details
  • Maher was a separated father of one from Poppintree, Ballymun.
  • Gardaí said it was possible Maher could have survived if someone had called an ambulance.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatVincent Maher, 29, died from injuries sustained in a violent assault during a party in his home in Springmount Apartments on Wellmount Road, Finglas, in the early hours of 11 January 2014. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda sources at the time believed Maher was attacked after he confronted two males about broken furniture in his flat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatVincent Maher, 29, died from injuries sustained in a violent assault believed to have taken place during a party in his home in Springmount Apartments on Wellmount Road, Finglas, in the early hours of 11 January 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGarda sources believed Mr Maher was attacked after he confronted two males about broken furniture in his flat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatVincent Maher sustained extensive injuries in a violent assault during a party in his apartment (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAttendees were drinking, smoking weed and doing drugs throughout the night (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn argument broke out between some of the men, prompting them to leave the party (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Maher was lying face down with his top and the sole of one shoe bloodstained (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Maher had extensive bruising, a fractured nose, significant internal haemorrhaging and bruises suggesting he was stamped on (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault took place in Springmount Apartments on Wellmount Road, Finglas (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assault occurred in the early hours of 11 January 2014 (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA post-mortem showed he died as a result of blunt force trauma injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeA postmortem showed he had died as a result of blunt force trauma injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe State pathologist found no single conclusive cause of death (irishtimes.com)
  • causeCause of death was a combination of multiple force blunt trauma, inhalation of blood, alcohol and diazepam intoxication, and positional asphyxia (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe coroner was aware of one witness currently in custody who had not been served with a summons. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationFive people including two females were arrested in relation to the fatal incident but nobody has ever been charged over his death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationFive people, including two women, were arrested in relation to the fatal incident, but nobody has ever been charged over his death. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury of seven people returned a narrative verdict (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe inquest was originally due in January but was adjourned because witnesses issued with summonses failed to attend (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí said it was possible the victim could have survived if someone had called an ambulance. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherMaher was a separated father of one who came originally from Poppintree, Ballymun. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMr Maher was a separated father of one who came originally from Poppintree, Ballymun. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNathan Harold was at the party and was brought to the inquest from custody where he is serving time for attacking and robbing a man (irishtimes.com)
  • otherVincent Maher was the father of one and the youngest of three children (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTina Maher said her son was her only son and the youngest of three (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Mar2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Mother of son who died following violent assault nine years ago pleads for answers

    Inquest held on 23 March 2023; narrative verdict returned by seven-person jury; investigation remains open per Detective Inspector Bronagh O'Reilly

    victim, Vincent Maher, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Vincent Maher
  2. 18 Jan2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, its first report
    Mother of assault victim ‘disgusted’ as witnesses fail to attend inquest

    Describes the adjournment of the inquest due to witness non-attendance, the coroner's apology, details of the summonses issued, and the family's decision to adjourn for a second attempt at securing witnesses.

    victim, Vincent Maher, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Vincent Maher
  3. 18 Jan2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Mum's anger as witnesses didn't turn up at assault victim son's inquest

    Reports the adjournment of the inquest due to witness non-attendance, the coroner's apology and explanation, the family's reaction, and additional details about the original 2014 incident including the alleged trigger, the discovery of the body, and the fact that five people were arrested but never charged.

    victim, Vincent Maher, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Vincent Mahersuspect, malesuspect, malesuspectsuspectsuspectsuspect, femalesuspect, female